Shock absorber for motor vehicles



March 17, 1931. J, J. KELLY 1,797,093

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June l. 192B ggg Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNETED STATES JAMES JOSEPH KELLY, OF LYALLS MILL, AUSTRALIA SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed June 1, 1928, Serial No.

The object of this invention is to provide a shock absorber for motor vehicles which is preferably positioned near to each end of the front and rear axles of said vehicle. The

5 purpose of said shock absorber is to nullify rebound troubles to which the leaf springs are subject. It is not desired to conne the invention to any exact method of securing saine to the vehicle at the positions mentioned,

19 as it is obvious that any suitable securing means may be employed Without departing from, or in any Way affecting the scope of the invention. The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation thereof and Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional elevation of the lower end of the piston rod sl1o\vinthe check valve mounted in the longitudinal bore of said rod. Since all of the four shock absorbers are of like construction, a description of one Will suflice for all.

Referring to said drawings, a cylinder 5, having a head at each of its ends, is secured either rigidly or freely to the axle (not shown) of the vehicle and preferably in the position as above mentioned. lVithin said cylinder 5, a piston 6 is adapted to Work, n which piston is carried by one end of the rod o 7, the other end of which is rigidly or freely anchored to the underside of the bodyY (not shown) of the vehicle, and at an approved position thereof. The head at the outer end of said cylinder is provided with an opening and a gland 8 in said opening through which the said piston rod 7 Works.

This rod 7 has a longitudinal bore 9, communicating with the underside of the piston G and with the outer atmosphere through branch passage 11 formed in the piston rod 7.

A check valve 10 is mounted in the bore 9 of the piston rod 7 and normally held against its seat by a spring. rlhe check valve 1() is adapted to open and permit the passage of atmospheric air to the inner end of the cylinder when the piston is moved toward the outer end of said cylinder.

To one side of the cylinder 5 and communieating through passages 12, `13, With the upper and lower portions thereof, is integrally Vtoward the outer end of the cylinder 5, air is 'end of the cylinder 5,*and force the air conzsais?, and in Australia April 4, 192s.

` valve may be of any form which Will permit the flow of air from the outer end of the cylinder 5 to the air receiver 1S but prevent the back-flow of air from the air receiverl 1S 6 to said cvlinder. The air receiver 18 may also be fitted with a pipe 21 for connection to the tires for the inflation of same. It is to be understood that when the piston 6 moves 7d admitted to the inner end of said cylinder through the passage' 11, bore 7 and check valve 10 and is imprisoned on the inner side of the piston 6 by the ball'or other non-return valve r10. The operation of the device is as follows and will be described with reference o one of said cylinders and related memers.

Assuming` that the vehicle meets with an irregularity of the road, the existing leaf springs tend to straighten out and thus cause the bodv of the vehicle to move toward the axles, which action. through the piston rod 7, causes the piston 6 to move toward the inner tained in the inner portion of the cylinder through the passage 13 into the auxiliary chamber 14', and thence through the passage 12 andnon-return valve 15 into the outer portion of the cylinder 5.

Then the vehicle has passed said irregularity, the saidleaf springs tend to return beyond their normal position, thus raising the body of theveliicle and causing the piston 6, through its rod 7 to move toward the outer end of the cylinder and compress the air Within the outer portion of the cylinder 5, thereby forming a cushion, thus counteracting and ouiosinothe otherwise sudden rebound of 190 ll h K the said leaf springs and nullifying any shock to saine and to the vehicle.

When the air pressure in the outer portion of the cylinder 5 has attained a predetermined limit, the air is led through the valve controlled pipe 17 to the receiver 18 from 'which itis relieved, upon attaining Said predeternined pressure therein, 'by the'safety valve 19.

A further funeti'ongof the airfreceiver -18 that the liih pressure air contained therein may be led throughpi'pe 21-`and usedifor initiating the tires of the vehicle, should the driver of latter not lhave'tlfi'e usu'alin'fla'tor, or be at a distance Jfrom an air supply.

It is ofCourse-(obvioustlrat 'the Cylinder endre'lfaftec'l members may be used andpo'sitioned in -a 'reverse inan'ner to that v'as above Set forth `and-shovvn inthe fdiavvings', Withthe invention'. v That claim "as iny invention and desire to secure by LettersPa't'ent, is Y 1. A sh-oekabso'rber 'for nieuntingb'e'twe'en :in axle and 'the 'supporting 'frame of 'aV vehi cle, comprising a Cylinder for Aa'ttae'l'innent to one of sai'd vehicle parts and hav-ing a head -at each 'of its ends, a piston W'orlrirrg in Asaid cylinder, a piston 'rod for attachment to the other of said vehicle parts,sa'id p'ifston rod extending; through'the head `at the outer end *lo the atmosphere, a check valve in'saifd bore a'dfapted to open and edinit faitnresplerie air to the Iinner side of saif'd ipiston When 'the'pisten is 4nioved toward 'the-Gter 'end of said cylinder, a. conduit iexterior to the Cylinder having its en ds conneted toV said cylinder en opposite sides of said piston, respe'etively, /a Check valve in said conduit 1adapted to `open and permit the passage of air from the inner slide tothe 'outer de o'ffsai-d pistn when the piston is moved'towa'rd the inner end of said Cylinder, a Closed tank eonnectedto the outer end 'of said vCvl'inder, and a Cheek valve be- (weer. saidc'ylinc'ler Vand said tank 'and adapted' to open 'and pernit the .passage of 'ai-r Ifrom the outer `end Gif safidfeylin'derto Isaid tank `vwhen theair in the'ofuerfend of'said Cylinder 'is eornpressed'to a predeterminedfdegree.

2. A shock absorber jaecording to claim 1 in wlrih the outer portion of -tbe cylinder Vis provided with a safetyvalve for the escape ofexce's's pressure between the piston and the outer head of the eylineler.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. er o.

f JME'S'JOSEPH KELLY. 

